Hi! My name is Ken. I'm a total newbie on anything other than point and shoot digital cameras, although I had some background years ago as an amateur with film SLR type units...

Ridenfun Loc: Calgary

My name is Ken. I'm a total newbie on anything other than point and shoot digital cameras, although I had some background years ago as an amateur with film SLR type units, generally mostly all manual in that era. Just looking forward to learning bits and pieces re current hardware, technology etc, as a general interest as I head into retirement so I can get some better pics while hiking and riding motorcycles in the Rocky Mountains west of where I live,

ELNikkor

Welcome to the forum, Ken! Wonderful that you have such a scenic location in which to retire, and riding motorcycles is a great way to see that country, (I've done it too!) Since you have done a bit of SLR photography way back, and may be interested in doing a little more than point and shoot, you may want to look at something that looks/feels like the SLR's of old, but is totally new and modern, such as an Olympus OM-D EM-Mark III. Lightweight, very sharp, great system to expand, not too expensive; it may be the only digital camera you'll need. Let us know how it goes, and send us a few of your photos now & then.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Ridenfun wrote:

My name is Ken. I'm a total newbie on anything other than point and shoot digital cameras, although I had some background years ago as an amateur with film SLR type units, generally mostly all manual in that era. Just looking forward to learning bits and pieces re current hardware, technology etc, as a general interest as I head into retirement so I can get some better pics while hiking and riding motorcycles in the Rocky Mountains west of where I live,

Good luck with that. The Nikon people will tout Nikons. The same with Canon, Sony Fuji and so on. Now the latest and greatest mirrorless cameras. what you will get are their beliefs.
I would do my own research based on the amount of $$$$ you have declared as disposable. Google SLR's make a chart. Make up your mind. Check out this guy named, Bryan Peterson a very successful photographer and author. One of his books is titled; How to Shoot Great Photos with Any Camera. The key word..."Any".I would think he has some of the answers to your questions.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Welcome!

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Ridenfun wrote:

My name is Ken. I'm a total newbie on anything other than point and shoot digital cameras, although I had some background years ago as an amateur with film SLR type units, generally mostly all manual in that era. Just looking forward to learning bits and pieces re current hardware, technology etc, as a general interest as I head into retirement so I can get some better pics while hiking and riding motorcycles in the Rocky Mountains west of where I live,

Hi!

Welcome Ken and come on in the water's warm, sometimes hot....

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.
(Check out dpreview.com for camera reviews.)

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

Welcome Ken! The best advice I can give you is to go and feel in your hands whatever is in your budget (go to a local camera shop first if you have one). All of the companies have great cameras - it just needs to be fun and functional for you (as well as portable if you are riding bikes and hiking - that's important!) We all have our favorites but it needs to be yours!